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In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement

“In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” is a concert in the White House East Room that WETA will produce. President and Mrs. Obama will host the event in honor of Black History Month. The evening will be taped live by WETA Washington, D.C. on February 9 and air on February 11 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings). The music special, part of the WETA “In Performance at the White House” series, will include Yolanda Adams, Joan Baez, Natalie Cole, Bob Dylan, Jennifer Hudson, John Mellencamp, Smokey Robinson, the Blind Boys of Alabama, the Howard University Choir and The Freedom Singers, featuring Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, Rutha Harris, Charles Neblett and Toshi Reagon. Morgan Freeman will serve as guest speakers.

Due to inclement weather, the following artists, originally announced for the show, were not able to participate: Robert De Niro, Queen Latifah, John Legend, Seal and Joanne Woodward

Press releases

Images

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The Blind Boys of Alabama, who will perform in the upcoming "In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement." Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Shannon Brinkman

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The Blind Boys of Alabama, who will perform in the upcoming "In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement." Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Adam McCullough

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John Legend, to play at the White House as part of “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.”Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Nabil Elderkin

IPWH-CivilRights-Seal01

Seal, to play at the White House as part of “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.” Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Courtesy artist.

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Smokey Robinson, producer and performer for “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.” Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Nick Spanos

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Smokey Robinson, producer and performer for "In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.” Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Nick Spanos

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Jennifer Hudson, to play at the White House as part of “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.” Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Courtesy artist.

IPWH-CivilRights-Cole01

Natalie Cole, to play at the White House as part of “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.” Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Matthew Rolston

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John Mellencamp, to play at the White House as part of “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.” Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Elaine Mellencamp

IPWH-CivilRights-Cole02

Natalie Cole, to play at the White House as part of “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.” Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Matthew Rolston

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John Mellencamp, to play at the White House as part of “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.” Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Kurt Markus

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Queen Latifah, a presenter at the White House for “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.” Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Courtesy artist.

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Queen Latifah, a presenter at the White House for “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.” Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Courtesy artist.

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Bob Dylan, to play at the White House for the first time as part of “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.” Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Courtesy artist.

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Bob Dylan, to play at the White House for the first time as part of “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.” Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Courtesy artist.

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The Howard University Choir, to play at the White House as part of “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.” Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Howard University, Copyright 2006.

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Morgan Freeman, a presenter at the White House for “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.” Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Nigel Parry.

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Yolanda Adams, to play at the White House as part of “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.” Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Courtesy artist.

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Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, to perform for “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.” Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Andrew Zuckerman.

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Joan Baez, “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.” Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Dana Tynan

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Robert De Niro, a guest speaker for “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.” Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
John Filo.

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Toshi Reagon (left), with her mother and fellow musician Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon. Both will perform with The Freedom Singers for "In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement." Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Courtesy artist.

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The Freedom Singers, part of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). In the 1960s, The Freedom Singers traveled around the country, carrying stories in song of local Civil Rights Movement campaigns to audiences across the nation. Left to right: Charles Neblett, Bernice Johnson, Cordell Reagon and Rutha Harris, in 1963. Rutha Harris, Charles Neblett and Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, joined by musician Toshi Reagon, will perform as part of “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.” Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Photograph by Joe Alper.

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Joan Baez, “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement.” Tapes February 10, broadcasts February 11 on PBS stations nationwide.

Credit:
Myrna Suarez

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Bob Dylan performs during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.

Credit:
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

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The Freedom Singers perform during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010. From left to right: Toshi Reagon and three original members of The Freedom Singers, Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, Charles Neblett and Rutha Harris.

Credit:
Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton

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Yolanda Adams sings during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.

Credit:
Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton

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Natalie Cole sings during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.

Credit:
Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton

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President Barack Obama makes remarks during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.

Credit:
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

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Joan Baez performs during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.

Credit:
Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton

IPWH-07CivilRights-ConcertFreeman

Morgan Freeman speaks during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.

Credit:
Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton

IPWH-08CivilRights-Concert-Smokey-Hudson

Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson sing during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.

Credit:
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

IPWH-11CivilRights-ConcertBlindBoys

The Blind Boys of Alabama sing during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.

Credit:
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

IPWH-12CivilRights-ConcertHowardChoir

The Howard University Choir sings during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.

Credit:
Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton

IPWH-11CivilRights-ConcertBlindBoys

The Blind Boys of Alabama sing during the “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement” concert in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 9, 2010.

WETA Television and Classical WETA 90.9 FM are community-based public broadcasting stations serving the Washington area and supported by listeners and viewers. WETA is also a major producing station for PBS.

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